by George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports

by George Schroeder, USA TODAY Sports

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Here's when it finally became apparent the force of nature we know as Johnny Manziel could in fact be stopped, when that strange, fantastic combination of talent, confidence and occasional luck malfunctioned.

Third quarter, down by two touchdowns but driving. Texas A&M's quarterback dropped back, spotted a receiver downfield and fired. Travis Labhart wasn't really open â?? a few yards away, Malcome Kennedy was â?? but this was Johnny Football.

Instead, he underthrew Labhart a tad, enabling Alabama's Jarrick Williams to catch up. The pass hit the safety in the back, popped high in the air â?? and strong safety Vinnie Sunseri picked it off.

Seventy-three yards later â?? a circuitous route that included a whiffed tackle by Manziel â?? Sunseri reached the end zone. Top-ranked Alabama led 35-14, and it was all over. The game â?? the final was 49-42 â?? and maybe, Manziel's shot to win another Heisman Trophy.

That last part shouldn't be true. Not after Manziel's performance, which was uneven but still spectacular. As it turns out, Manziel can't quite do it all.

Just almost.

As 87,596 watched at Kyle Field, Manziel bedeviled the Crimson Tide early, running and passing the Aggies to a quick 14-0 lead, shades of A&M's fast start in last November's victory in Tuscaloosa. He finished 28 of 39, for 464 yards passing, and accumulated 562 total. He threw a 95-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mike Evans midway through the fourth quarter and another to Malcome Kennedy with 15 seconds left to make the final moments enthralling.

And it's only one loss, with a lot of season left. The statement made by Alabama was emphatic. The Crimson Tide's offense mauled A&M's defense. And yet Manziel almost, almost kept up. Texas A&M's 628-yard total was the most Alabama has ever allowed. Even with a number of Heisman moments, a couple of mistakes on plays also will be etched in our memories.

Sometimes, they work â?? like in the first half, when Manziel uncorked a far more ill-advised pass than the third-quarter interception, and when it seemed he might actually be unstoppable.

It was 14-all early in the second quarter, and a shootout seemed on the way â?? especially after Johnny Football happened.

On third-and-long, no one was open. Pressured, then in the grasp, Manziel spun away. Backpedaled. Spun. Backpedaled some more. And then unleashed an ill-advised pass, a heave off his back foot far down the middle into a hornets' nest.

And of course, an Aggie emerged with the football.

The play took 13 seconds of the game clock, and all anyone could do was shrug: That's Johnny Football.

"That's just a Johnny Manziel play," said Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, admitting it was frustrating.

But that drive ended four plays later when Manziel threw into the end zone. It was a much better decision, but a much poorer pass (though the receiver's route wasn't the best, and Manziel later hinted there had been a miscommunication). The overthrown lob was easily intercepted, and it was a critical turning point.

"That's on me," Manziel said. "It's either our ball or nobody's. I know that, and I know better than that."

Alabama needed four plays to go 80 yards for the lead. And the next time Manziel tried his luck, it had gone bad. He had a shot at Sunseri after the interception, and Sunseri recognized it.

"He's not a hitter," Sunseri said. "He was going for the ball, and I knew he was going for the ball."

Which makes perfect sense. We all know â?? and were reminded so many times Saturday â?? that when Manziel has it, anything can happen.

"He played Johnny-like," Sumlin said. "That's about the way to put it."

It was almost, but not quite good enough.

***

George Schroeder, a national college football reporter for USA TODAY Sports, is on Twitter @GeorgeSchroeder.